Polamalu changes his tune on voluntary workouts

Posted by Mike Florio on April 20, 2010, 7:49 AM EST

Last offseason Steelers safety Troy Polamalu worked out on his own in California rather than with his teammates in Pennsylvania, and he said that his personal trainers were giving him a better workout than he’d get with the team.

But after a season in which injuries caused him to miss 11 games, Polamalu is attending voluntary workouts, saying he thinks they’re going to help prepare his body for the 2010 season.

Still, Polamalu said he might skip some voluntary workouts later this offseason and train with Marv Marinovich in Southern California instead.

“I don’t know; we will see,” he said. “When you are training and you are near your family all the time, there is nothing that can really replace that. When I am here with the team, I love being around the guys.”

Training in southern California may sound nice but it simply isnt working for Polamalu . This guy has missed a rediculous amount of games the past two seasons and he cant help the team by standing on the sideline every weekend . He is without a doubt the best safety in the NFL but he has to be there when it counts . Hopefully he has begun to realize that .

So the fact of the matter is that he doesn’t want to work out and was hurt because he was out of shape last year and decided he didn’t to get hurt this year so decided to work out so he would be in shape this year.

Just curious: will this new “zero-tolerance” stance scare players into thinking that they have to attend “voluntary” workouts, etc?
Wouldn’t it be counter-productive, like everyone is walking on eggshells? It’s as if they’re taking the paranoia that’s already present and building on it. (Not to mention it will probably affect the team when they take the field.)
Big Boner has officially turned this once admirable franchise inside-out. It’s really pathetic.

You guys kill me. Why is this news? “I don’t know; we will see,” That is a firm answer worth reporting. How did Troy’ training in California cause his injury? A player fell on the side of his leg and messed up knee. Jesus, you guys are retarded. So you are saying that if Troy attended the VOLUNTARY (wink, wink) workouts with the team, that this knee injury never would have occured. The “INVOLUNTARY” workouts are something that Goodell should address. The players are told they are voluntary but sure catch some hell and make some big news when the don’t attend.

@Dave3258
Do you watch football? Troy was a human highlight reel in the opening game against the Titans last year until a player fell on the side of his knee while Troy was playing on the field goal unit. That was pretty smart having one of the best defensive players in the game today in on the field goal unit.

@ Billsfan
I don’t think anyone is walking on eggshells thinking they’ll be traded for not attending a workout. I have a feeling they’re smart enough to know, don’t put yourself in situations where you’re going to get in trouble (other than Ben).
As for Polamalu how can you really criticize the guy? He’s the best safety in football. I don’t see how his injury could have anything to do with what kind of shape he was in, more to do with the fact that a 270 lb Alge Crumpler landed on his knee and made it twist a way it shouldn’t.

I think what Troy meant to say was, “When you’re training in beautiful Southern California it’s impossible to actually want to leave that climate and go to Pittsburgh.”
Dont you mean a PLACE like ThePitts burgh, especially when there is a serial rapist running around. Do the cops have any leads on who it might be.

Dave3258
Troy started all 16 game two years ago when the Steelers won SB 43.
But never let the facts get in the way.
And if they didn’t have them out there on special teams, he probably wouldn’t been hurt last year. He got fell on a blocled field goal.

As with Ben, people like to declare an overall history without looking at the specific situations.
With some of the hits Polamalu has taken (or given to himself), it’s a wonder he hasn’t missed MORE time. When you see knees collapse sideways like Troy’s did with Big Crump sitting on it, most of the time that’s automatically the season right there.

Chizzle says:
April 20, 2010 8:40 AM
Ben won’t attending the “voluntary” workouts. He doesn’t like anything voluntary.
I think this should get you a copy of Florio’s book.
On the serious side, while Troy is the best safety in football, he is taking alot of damage with his playing style. He needs to either adjust how he plays to prolong his career, or accept that it may be over sooner rather than later. Even a Troy at 80% is better than a majority of safeties in league. But I hate seeing him twice a year.

# myspaceyourface says: April 20, 2010 8:40 AM
“Boy FLORIO – YOU ARE A WORD TWISTER.
Over and Over and Over again – you twist words into something that wasn’t even said”
That’s how he makes his living.
He makes these absurd implications, then he goes on to explain that that’s not what he was actually implying.Every single article he writes uses the exact same formula. It’s been like this forever.
But he will never stop, because of all of the mindless minions who swallow his every word.
These are the same Rhodes Scholars who watch Jerry Springer, and you see buying the National Enquirer in the supermarket checkout line.

I’m surprised none of the PFT “writers” or the tards reading the article didn’t realize that Troy’s trainer is none-other-than former Raider #1 pick Todd Marinovich’s father. The same dad that got his son on the cover of SI with the title Robo-QB because of his supposed great training and garbage ideas on how to develop a QB.
It’s not surprising Troy couldn’t stay healthy, Marv Marinovich couldn’t help his son’s weak arm, couldn’t keep him healthy, and couldn’t keep him from being a major-league substance abuser.